Association Forum - Spring Line Docking

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Spring Line Docking

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Steve Raffel
Captain

Member Avatar

262 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/26/2002 : 12:26:03

My C250 WK lives in a slip where I dock port side to. I would like to be able to use a spring line from the dock attached to a fitting on the boat and spring off it by going forward slowly with the rudder to starboard (tiller to port). The problem is I can't find a place to attach the spring line far enough astern to pivot the boat. I added a cleat to the genny track but it is too far forward.

Any thoughts would be apprciated.

Steve Raffel
C 250 WK #408

Edited by - on

Tupelo Honey
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2002 : 15:15:06

i've always thought that catalina ran out of cleats during production of the 250. i attach my dock lines to the base of the stanchions. i know this is not ideal, but my harbor is quite snug, and i don't live in a hurricane zone, so it's worked well for two seasons, now.

between the backing plate, the drilling, etc., i've been too lazy to attach cleats and am satisfied with this arrangement.

d

Catalina 250WB
Long Island Sound
"Tupelo Honey"
<BR><img src="http://www.stardive.org/tupelo.jpg"<img src

Edited by - on

Ray Seitz
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
416 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2002 : 17:25:20

Steve West Marine makes a rail mounted cleat for ~$15.00. I had to put one on my stanctions for the season, for my main halyard, as the clutch is oversized for the line that Catalina sent with the boat. You would need the 1" size for our rails. I know this is not Ideal but it is easy to get a line on and off the cleat and the cleat seems pretty strong.

Ray Seitz C 250WB #628

Edited by - on

Steve Raffel
Captain

Members Avatar

262 Posts

Response Posted - 06/26/2002 : 19:57:55

Ray, thanks for the info. I could use it for my jib halyard. It might not be strong enough for spring line but I'll try it.

Steve Raffel
C 250 WK #408

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2002 : 00:48:16

Steve,

I'm unclear about what you you are trying to accomplish by use of the spring line.

Are you thinking about going forward on an after bow spring line, to either kick the boat away from the dock, or to hold the boat close alongside the dock? Or, are you thinking about going forward on an after quarter spring line, to draw the boat close alongside the dock?

The after bow spring line is attached to the bow cleat, and the other end of the line is led aft to a point approximately amidship, and attached to a cleat on the dock. If you have an inboard auxiliary engine, where the prop is situated forward of the rudder, then you can put the engine in forward gear, and, using the propwash against the rudder, “steer” the boat either closer alongside the dock or away from the dock. The spring line will prevent the boat from moving forward while you are using the motor to steer the boat closer to, or away from, the dock. If you have an outboard engine, the rudder position is irrelevant. You “steer” the boat by pivoting the outboard engine slightly in the desired direction.

An after quarter spring line is attached to the stern cleat of the boat, and the other end of the line is led aft about half a boat length and attached to a cleat on the dock. By putting the engine in forward gear, the spring line will draw taut, causing the boat to swing close alongside the dock.

Spring lines are usually used in this manner to bring the boat alongside or away from the dock, where there is a cross current or a strong wind across the beam. When you are using spring lines in this manner, you should always place fenders between your boat and the dock to protect the boat from scrapes and bumps.

I don’t understand why you feel that you have to attach the spring line aft of the bow cleat. Using the after bow spring line, you can either bring the boat alongside the dock until the port side touches the dock, or you can pivot the stern away from the dock until the boat is at a 45 degree angle, or more, to the dock.

Steve Milby "Captiva Wind" C-25 T/FK #2554

Edited by - on

Steve Raffel
Captain

Members Avatar

262 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2002 : 16:54:26

Steve, thanks for your remarks. I want to pivot the boat by going forward on a spring line attached to my slip. You say I can do that by attaching a spring line to the bow and amidships to a cleat on the dock. Then I should be able to and swing the stern in by steering with the outboard. I was trying to do the same thing by going forward on a spring line attached amidships at the pivot point of the boat and to a cleat on the dock at the stern. I'll try your suggestion of the bow spring line attached to the dock amidship and steer the stern in.

Thanks.

Steve Raffel
C 250 WK #408

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.